Suspension assembly for oxygen pressure breathing mask



April 17, 1956 A, BLOOM 2,742,039

SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FOR OXYGEN PRESSURE BREATHING MASK 1 Filed June 25, 1954 INVENTOR. 6/??0/3 a 0/7 United States Patent i SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FOR OXYGEN PRESSURE I t BREATHING MASK.

- Aaron Bloom, Philadelphia. Pa. Application June 25'. 1954, s t-rat No. 432495 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-141) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) ticularly to novel and improved apparatus for maintaining oxygen breathing mask or the like in proper positlon over the face of the wearer.

In the construction and design of various types of oxygen masks and similar gear it is usuallynecessary and desirable to obtain a proper and effective seal between the inner peripheral surface of the mask and the face of the wearer. Inasmuch as oxygen supply and discharge ducts as well as various conventional electric conduits for the mask microphone and the like must of necessity be attached to the mask, a special harness and/or suspension assembly for the same must be provided. Although various types of harness and suspension assemblies have been devised and used for this purpose in the past, considerable difficulty has been experienced heretofore in obtaining an effective harness which. is relatively simple in construction and yet reliable in use.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide novel and improved apparatus for properly positioning and securing a mask or the like over the face of the wearer at all times.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel and improved apparatus for positioning a mask on the face of the wearer whereby the resultant applied retaining force acts through the symmetrical center of the mask and is substantially normal to the average sealing surface or plane thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mask having the preferred harness and suspension assembly of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective of the harness and suspension assembly shown in Figure 1.

In general the improved apparatus of the present invention includes a member which embraces the inlet duct of the mask and means which are secured to the member and which extend along opposite sides of the mask for securing the member and the mask in place on the wearers 2,742,039 Patented Apr. 17, 1 956 posite electrical conduit 6 for the microphone" assembly 7 are ofconventional design and depend as *sh'own from the mask 3. i t r -As indicated heretofore the harness and suspension assembly which is generally designated-in the drawing by reference numeral}; forms auniquefeature of the present'invention and is best shown inFigure 2 of the drawing. Essentially this assembly. consists of a preferably metallic yoke or plate member 9 having four protruding arms or extremities. Two of these arms 10 are preferably suitably curved inwardly as shown so as to embrace and support in a manner which will be more apparent hereinafter that portion of the oxygen inlet duct 5 which is joined to and depends from the mask. The remaining two arms of the member 9 which are designated in the drawing by reference numeral 11, though they are also preferably curved. inwardly slightly to conform to the lateral peripheral surface or contourof the 'mask, are preferably designed and constructed so as to face. It has been found that a particularly efficient and effective seal between the mask and wearers face can be obtained and maintained in this manner.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. As shown therein, the oxygen breathing mask or the like 3 is preferably secured in any suitable conventional manner to the wearers helmet 4 and is adapted to be properly positioned over the lower portion of the wearers face. The

oxygen breathing inlet duct or the like 5 and the comform an angle of 45 to 55 degrees with the symmetrical axis of the mask. In this manner as will be more .apparent hereinafter the resultant force which is applied to maintain the mask in its proper position on the wearers face acts through the symmetrical center of the maskon a line that is substantially normal to the average sealing surface or plane of the mask.

The ends of the arms 11 are preferably slotted as at l2 for a pivoted connection with the adjacent extremities of the adjustable fastener elements on buckles 13 through which one extremity of the belt or the like 14 is adapted to be passed. The opposite extremity of the belt or strap 14 is preferably secured in any suitable manner such as by means of the snap fastener members 15 shown in the drawing to the helmet or the like 4.

In operation the inwardly curved extremities 10 of the yoke member 9 are first forcibly positioned about the oxygen inlet duct 5 adjacent the lower front portion of the mask. The complementary elements of the snap. fastener members 15 are then engaged so as to secure the mask 3 and the assembly 8 to the helmet and the tension belts 14 are then properly adjusted so that an effective seal between the wearers face and the mask is secured. Ithas been found that the above described harness and suspension assembly provides a positive and secure support for the depending portions of the mask and at the same time applies upon the outer periphery of the mask a force normal to the mask sealing surface for maintaining the mask in its proper position on the wearers face.

Although for optimum results it has found that the angle betweenthe symmetrical axis of the mask and the used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is: p

1. In combination with a helmet and a breathing mask having an inlet duct depending from a lower portion thereof a suspension assembly for the mask comprising an element having a center portion and four protruding extremities, one pair of said extremities being curvilinearly formed so as to embrace the inlet duct, and the other pair of extremities diverging symmetricallyfrom the center portion of the element upwardly and outwardly along opposite side portions of the mask; and adjustable strap members that extend between each of the said other pair of extremities of the element and respective adjacent portions of the helmet.

2. In combination with a helmet and a breathing mask having an inlet duct depending from a lower portion thereof a suspension assembly for the mask comprising an element having a center portion and four protruding extremities, one pair of said extremities being curvilinearly formed so as to embrace the inlet duct, and the other pair of extremities diverging symmetrically from the center portion of the element upwardly and outwardly along opposite side portions of. the mask; and adjustable strap members that extend between each of the said other pair of extremities of the element and respective adjacent portions of the helmet, the angle of divergence of each of the said other pair of extremities of the element from a centerline therebetween being 45 to 55 degrees.

Bierman et al. Jan. 14, 1947 Boothby et a1. Nov. 2, 1948 

